Apparatus for developing and washing photographic prints.



J.E.THORNTON. APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1913.

1 173,899, Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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' I @q Z-urrze% UNITED "STATES PATENT orrion.

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN OWDEN OBRIEN, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

' APPARATUS FOR,DEVELOPING AND WASHING PHOTOGBAPHIC PRINTS.

Original application filed June 21, 1911,

To all whom it may concern:

Washing Photographic Prints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture by the bichromate process of a photographic strip .or film-tape provided with a succession of pictures. It is more particularly intended for the manufacture of films for motion or cinematograph pictures though it may be applied to the production of a large number of pictures in the form of strips or films.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for treating films of considerable:lengthsuch as have been printed as described in my concurrent application Serial No. 634573, filed June 21, 1911, of which the present application is a division.

The invention consists in continuously treating a constantly moving film with solutions or liquids for developing andfixing after printing as a continuous process without manual handling 'of the film ina very long length extended helically and in apparatus constructed with two long parallel rollers with dividing flanges over which the films are passed in helical form and spraying tubes or jets or shallow troughs by which the liquids are applied to the films. By this arrangement in a comparative limited space a great length of the strip can be coiled and at the same time fully treated with liquid as it passes continuously in a helical path at any required speed, at which the rollers are caused or permitted to rotate by the application of power.

I As compared with a zig-zag paththe present arrangement of a helical path has sev eral pronounced advantages. In the first place it causes the portions of the material in successive turns to lie all in the same plane and with the sensitized surfaces facing in the same direction, which greatly facilitates the application of reagents to the film or the inspection of the product.

The objects and features of the invention Will be set forth in connection with the fol I Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 634,573. 1913. Serial No. 774,047.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Divided and this application filed June 16,

developed and fixed or otherwise treated with liquid.

The film a is printed in the apparatus shown and described in my concurrent application Serial No. 634,573, filed June 21, 1911.

The developing and fixing apparatus C is V inclosed by walls or partitions 0 and fitted with two sets of supporting-rollers 61, 62, 65, 66 respectively, arranged one set above the other, since it is not usually necessary indeveloping and fixing the film to subject it to a prolonged operation. Obviously howfluid in passing under the roller and remains moistened therewith while passing upwardly and over the roller 61. The action of this apparatus may be enhanced, if necessary, by the employment of additional means for applying the developing fluid to the film such, for example, as a spray-pipe 74:, from which fluid is discharged upon the film as it passes over the roller 61. As considerable stretching of the film is liable to occur during the developing operation, I have shown the lower roller 62 as journaled by means of trunnions 62 which are free to move in vertically-slotted guides 7 5, the roller being supported freely by the film and being thus free to fall and thus take up any slack that may occur in the film.

From the developing-rollers the film passes downward around a. guide-roller 65, and thence to the roller 66. This roller is immersed in a fixing-solution contained in a tank 67 and applied to thefilm in the same manner as in the case of developing fluid.

From the fixing rollers the film-strip passes over a guide-roller 68 to suitable Washing apparatus.

The apparatus just described is adaptable,

by modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art to the performance of any of the ordinary developing operations by which a strip of photographic film,

or other material may be produced, the helical path followed by the film being of utility in connection with all such processes. The invention is not, therefore limited to the details of construction and arrangement of the illustrated apparatus, but may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

The rollers 61, 62, 65 and 66 are fitted with a number of guide flanges 69 as shown.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for producing photographic prints comprising a pair of rollers constituting means for passing a strip of sensitized material continuously in a substantially helical course whereby the adjacent turns of the strip are moved substantially in one plane, and means for subjecting a portion of the strip to the action of a reagent.

2. Apparatus for producing photographic prints comprising pairs of parallel rollers constituting means for moving a strip of sensitized material continuously through a succession of substantially helical courses, means for subjecting the strip while passing over one pair of rollers to the action of a reagent, and means for subjecting the strip while passing over another pair of rollers to the action of a different reagent whereby the strip is subjected continuously to a succession of protracted operations.

3. Apparatus for producing photographic prints having, in combination a plurality' of rollers journaled with substantially parallel axes, means for guiding a continuous strip of sensitized material in a substantially helical path around said rollers, means for guiding the strip to enter continuously at one end of said path, means for guiding the strip to leave continuously at the other end of said path, and means for immersing one of said rollers in a reagent to thereby subject the film in said path to the action of a reagent.

l. Apparatus for treating a continuously moving film with liquid comprising in its construction two long parallel rollers having a series of guide flanges on each, over which the film is extended in helical form with a large portion of its surface exposed to view, and a shallow trough into which one of said rollers with the film thereon is dipped, and a spray for the liquor so that only a small quantity of liquid is required, the liquor soaking into the gelatin surface as the film travels from one roller to the other substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

JOHN EDl/VARD THORNTON.

WVitnesses:

H. D. JAMESON, W. E. Rooms.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

